Donald Trump addresses leaders in Davos. I was there

This week in Davos was about many things: AI, geopolitics and markets. But President Donald Trump was in the spotlight.

His A long-awaited speech at the World Economic Forum thousands of people gathered, participants queued for hours to enter the Congress Hall.

I was one of them. I stood in line for more than an hour and a half. Even Blackstone Group CEO Steve Schwartzman had to wait in line with us. I finally cleared security and found a seat – lucky because many people refused to enter the hall.

As the crowd gathered, the atmosphere began to resemble something closer to a star-studded concert than a political forum. The audience included Apple CEO Tim Cook, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, World Bank President Ajay Banga, as well as senior political and business figures such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

There were lighter moments before the speech began; Cook greeted Banga with a big hug, and Lagarde exchanged warm greetings with European officials – a small, human interaction before transitioning to a waiting room.

Trump received a standing ovation when he took the stage to deliver what was arguably the most-watched speech at this year’s Davos.

He said it was good to see so many friends and “some enemies,” prompting laughter from the crowd. From there, he described himself as the most successful president and highlighted his main achievements in one year.

“People are doing a great job and they’re happy with me,” Trump said, prompting laughter and applause.

The tone veered between humor and provocation. Trump took aim at several figures, including French President Emmanuel Macron, patting his sunglasses and asking, “What’s up with that?” he asked.

He also made several comments to Carney. The CEO, who was sitting nearby, told me on condition of anonymity that Carney took it in good humor with a smile and a nod.

After more than an hour, Trump turned to a topic on the minds of many in the room. “Would you like me to talk about Greenland?” she asked with a loud “yes!” from the audience. Some of the participants around me shook their heads. A man sitting behind me who was Danish muttered, “That’s funny.

“I will immediately try to negotiate the United States’ purchase of Greenland once again,” Trump said.

The room was noticeably quieter. “It’s scary,” said one participant in front of me, sharing an uncomfortable look with the others.

“So they have a choice. You can say yes, and we’ll be very happy. Or you can say no, and we’ll remember,” Trump said in Greenland, but it was the first time he’d said it. it does not use force — resulting in collective breathing.

Trump also called Greenland a “piece of ice” and apparently confused it with Iceland, another European country.

The president also criticized Europe more broadly, saying parts of the continent had become “unrecognizable” and describing former Swiss president Karin Keller-Sutter as “difficult”.

“He kept saying the same thing over and over. “He rubbed me the wrong way,” he said.

The address was followed by a fireside chat with WEF President Borge Brende, but by then – more than an hour later – some of the audience had started to leave.

As I left, I asked a few attendees what they thought. One tech CEO summed it up succinctly: He didn’t know whether to laugh or be nervous, a sentiment echoed by others.

“Yes, we laughed,” one politician told me. “But it’s also scary to think that he might try to do some of it.”